Sydney Swans draft pick Will Gould ready to make a strong impression at AFL level
Brutish Sydney Swans AFL draft pick Will Gould says he has no fear of playing the game at senior level, revealing he’s been going up against men since making his senior footy debut, aged just 13.
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Will Gould isn’t quite the same beast the Swans first set their sights eyes on but he won’t be afraid to throw his weight around when he starts his AFL adventure at the club next week.
Coach John Longmire is confident each of the club’s new draft recruits will be challenging “sooner rather than later” and Gould won’t be quietly biding his time and just hoping for his chance.
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“Footy doesn’t know your age’ is the line I usually get told,” the 18-year-old told The Saturday Telegraph.
“I was playing footy against men back home when I was 13. First few games you’re a little bit scared but, yeah.”
The South Australian defender, secured with pick 26, was told by the Swans that he needed to shift a little timber at the AFL Combine back in October and it was a challenge he nailed in double quick time.
Strict portion sizes, extra boxing, swimming and running sessions did the trick but without leaving him devoid of the presence the Swans rate so highly.
Six kilograms have been swiftly shed (he’s now 99.8kgs) and the skinfolds have dropped 28 to 46.5.
But the man described by his state coach as “a boy in a man’s body” views his size as an asset to make life miserable for opposing forwards – whether large or small.
“My size and weight really helps,” he said.
“I’m sort of in between tall and medium defender and the physical advantage I have lets me play on the really really tall talls as well and the smaller players too.
“I love throwing the weight around in big bumps and tackles and leading from the front in that department.”
He joked that he wouldn’t be dishing out punishment to his teammates on the training track though.
Dane Rampe is the Swan Gould most admires and that appreciation has gone to another level having received a welcome message from last season’s club champion.
“From a defensive point of he has been the one for me that I’ve watched and admired,” Gould said.
“He texted me last night. I was in shock. I didn’t really know how to reply.
“He said he was looking forward to meeting me and I think you’ll fit in well and add a bit to the backline, which was amazing.
“He’s a medium tall as well I guess. He plays on smalls one minute and the tallest of the talls the next. I just watch the way he goes about it.”
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There will be at least one familiar face when Gould reports for duty, fellow South Australian Dylan Stephens – the Swans’ pick five.
“We’re mates but we played for schools that didn’t like each other very much,” Gould laughed.
Swans coach Longmire agrees with the view that football doesn’t care about someone’s age.
“Will Gould we think is a fantastic defender,” he said. “Gives some real dash across the defence. Big body really loves to compete, so we’re thrilled with him.
“We think the four we’ve been able to pick up in this draft (Gould, Stephens, Elijah Taylor and Chad Warner) have all got attributes that can play senior footy and sooner rather than later.”